BURSTCanadian Will Gadd recently joined Australian Hugh Newall on a trip to Australia’s famed Snowy Mountains, where they eventually found some fragile ice lines and marginal winter conditions.
For Gadd, the prospect of climbing ice in Australia presented a question: could a country known for its arid landscapes and extreme heat offer opportunities for winter climbing? Initial conditions offered little encouragement, and with insufficient ice to climb the expedition’s main objective, Gadd and Newall turned to rock climbing in the Blue Mountains.
Newall has been visiting the mountains since childhood. In the film below, he describes how family trips and cross-country skiing have shaped his personal history. He also reflects on changes in the local winter environment, including declining snow depths and a shortening winter season. After a snowy approach, Gadd and Newall finally found some ice to climb.
With low expectations and high stoke, this lighthearted film follows a journey to prove that Australia does indeed have a snowy region and better yet, real ice routes waiting to be climbed.
Australia Ice Climbing
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